Former US secretary of state Henry Kissinger said on Sunday that although there is likely to be a period of "hiatus" after the death of Syrian president Hafez Assad, the peace process with Israel would continue.

There will be a pause while the new government establishes itself, he said, "but fundamentally the decision had been made to make an agreement with Israel."

Assad's son Bashar, 34, is widely expected to assume his father's position and as a western-educated doctor, could prove to be more progressive.